How do I control the system volume on OS X with a keyboard without media controls?

Question

I'm using a PC keyboard on Mac OS. I can use the menubar to control the volume, but are there any keyboard shortcuts I can use to change the system volume?

Or perhaps a simple script or solution I can install to be able to set the volume using the keyboard.

Answer 1

You can buy the pro version of Sizzling Keys. It is a preference pane that allows you to define a custom keyboard shortcut for modifying system volume, among lots of other things.

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Alternatively, you can modify system volume using AppleScript.

Open up AppleScript Editor and enter

set volume output volume 100

Volume is on a scale of 0 to 100. You can either set an absolute value (e.g. 100 for full volume), or create scripts that increase/decrease, such as the following:

set vol to output volume of (get volume settings)
if vol > 90 then # 100 max
    set volume output volume 100
else
    set volume output volume (vol + 10)
end if

You can save scripts as these as applications, or integrate them into the Services menu using Automator as an input-less service. You can define keyboard shortcuts for services in System Preferences » Keyboard » Keyboard Shortcuts » Services

Answer 2

I've packaged up a set of AppleScript services and instructions that let you control system & iTunes volume, as well as play/pause & next/prev on any keyboard in Lion.

http://gskinner.com/blog/archives/2011/10/media-keys-in-osx-for-any-keyboard.html

Answer 3

The F1 to F12 keys on the PC keyboard should do the same thing. I assume you have had no issues with substituting the "Windows" key for ⌘ key. If the F1 to F12 keys don't work, go to system preferences,keyboard & mouse, keyboard and make the choices from there, whether to use the F keys directly or with the fn key qualifier. Regards Paul